Wednesday, 27 March 2013

For the first time since 2001 computer sales are expected
to be lower than the previous year[1]. This has coincided with
an increase in other devices sales, such as tablets, laptops and smartphones.
Over the past few years there has also been a 30% increase in mobile site
traffic and mobile internet usage is predicted to overtake desktop internet
usage by the end of 2014[2].

With this changing landscape comes a change in
expectations; users expect to browse websites just as easily on their mobile
phones as they do on their desktop computers. Currently, the majority of websites
are created with a one size fits all philosophy. Websites are designed with
desktop computers in mind, and their appearance will occasionally scale down to
squeeze onto other devices.

Responsive web design represents a fundamental shift in
how we design and build websites, allowing for customer expectations to not only
be achieved but exceeded. Mobile ready design allows websites to respond and
adapt to a specific screen size, orientation and platform. It provides an
optimal viewing experience – easy reading and navigation while keeping
resizing, panning and scrolling to a minimum.

One of the most appealing aspects of mobile ready design is the fact that Google recognises and recommends its use[3]. In contrast to separate
mobile sites, responsive websites use the same hyperlinks and code. This allows
Google to access and index your site as efficiently as possible, which is
essential when it comes to search engines.

Responsive design is all about automatically delivering
your audience the content they want, within the context that they’re viewing
it. Given the rapid advancements and adoptions of smartphones and tablets it’s
inevitable the responsive web design will become the norm. As Ethan Marcotte,
the author of the book Responsive Web Design explains, "Now more than
ever, we’re designing work meant to be viewed along a gradient of different
experiences. Responsive web design offers us a way forward, finally allowing us
to 'design for the ebb and flow of things.” [4]

Speak to one of the friendly staff at Digerati Solutions about making your website optimised for a range of devices!